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PHILOSOPHICAL AND SOCIOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS OF EDUCATION: Does a relationship exist between a teacher and philosophy?

CHAPTER THREE

CATEGORIES OF PHILOSOPHIES

3b i). Conceptualize the pre-existing relationship between the teacher and philosophy

3.8 Philosophy and the Teacher

Philosophy has great influence on the teacher and regards every teacher a philosopher. Different philosophies describe a teacher for children in different ways.

(a) Idealism and the teacher.

An idealist teacher is a man or woman of higher ideals. The teacher is very important to the child Idealist teacher is not satisfied with imparting knowledge to make children clever, but also to inspire children with principles of truth, obedience, purity, sincerity, and humility. The principles will make children useful in their families, community and society. The idealist teacher also desires to make every child to love God and to be self-less.

Roles of a teacher:

According to idealism the performs the following roles:

A spiritual guide of the child.

A living model for the child.

A stage setter. He sets the environment in which education takes place.

A symbol of right conduct.

(b) Naturalism and the teacher

According to Froebel the father of kindergarten, a school is a garden, the teacher is a gardener and the child is a tender plant. The work of the gardener is to provide manure and water the tender plant. The plant does the work of growing. According to naturalism, nature is a great teacher. Naturalism considers nature as the only supreme teacher in whose close contact the child develops naturally.

Roles of a teacher:

According to naturalism the teacher performs the following roles:

An observer. In a naturalistic system of education the teacher plays the role of an observer.

A facilitator. The teacher’s role is to facilitate the process of the child’s growth and development. The teacher also facilitates learning. The teacher only supplies materials and provides learning opportunities under which learning takes place.

A stage setter. He sets the environment in which education takes place.

A symbol of right conduct.

(c) Pragmatism and the teacher.

According to pragmatism, a teacher is very important to the child and plays many

roles.

Roles of a teacher:

According to pragmatism the teacher performs the following roles:

Resource person.

A stage setter. He sets the environment in which education takes place.

A friend of the child.

A helper of the child. The teacher assists the learner when he is in difficulty or when he needs help.

A facilitator. The teacher prepares the environment for children to grow, develop and learn. The teacher provides variety of activities for children to do.